Ethiopia reiterates GERD will not harm Egypt and Sudan
Borkena
Toronto – Despite decade long diplomatic battle and hostilities, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is now complete. Yet, the dispute does not seem to be ending.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced in his latest parliamentary appearance that the project will be inaugurated in the Ethiopian New Year which is in September.
“We extend an open invitation to the governments and peoples of Egypt, Sudan, and all Nile Basin nations to join us in celebrating this historic milestone—Ethiopia’s Renaissance—in September, ” the Ethiopian PM announced.
Egypt sees the completion of the project as “unlawful”, according to The Associated Press Report published on July 4. The project is one that “violates international law” and is ideologically motivated with the aim to impose “water hegemony.” It does not represent “equal partnership.
The source quoted Egypt’s Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry as saying, “Egypt firmly rejects Ethiopia’s continued policy of imposing a fait accompli through unilateral actions concerning the Nile River, which is an international shared watercourse.”
On the other hand Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed conveyed a message during his appearance at the parliament last Thursday. ” To our neighbours downstream—Egypt and Sudan—our message is clear: the Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity. It is a symbol of regional cooperation and mutual benefit,” the Office of the Prime Minister wrote, quoting Abiy Ahmed’s speech.
The statement from the Office of the Prime Minister also expressed “to ensure that our growth does not come at the expense of our Egyptian and Sudanese brothers and sisters. ”
During the course of the GERD construction, Egypt and Sudan, after the fall of Omar Hassan Al Bahsir, coordinated campaigns against Ethiopia. Several rounds of talks between the three countries did not bear result as Egypt sought what appeared to be control of Ethiopia.
Egypt has been stubbornly claiming a “historical right over the Nile” making a reference to the 1859 colonial era agreement to which Ethiopia was not a part. The latter, on the other hand, advanced an equitable distribution of the water among riparian countries – including the upper riparian.
Yet, it also stands on the ground that the Dam will not decrease the volume of water flowing to the lower riparian countries The statement from the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia this week indicated intent to constructively engage with lower riparian countries.
GERD Project was launched in 2011. The Ethiopian government has been saying that it was entirely financed from local sources. Yet, last month Donald Trump made a new claim saying the U.S. financed the project. However, the GERD public coordination head dismissed Trump’s claim as “wrong.” The Dam is 145 meters high , has 13 turbines and is expected to generate over 5000 MW of Hydro electric power.
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Hah!!! ‘Unlawful’? How is that? Nobody is building the dam inside Egyptian territory and the flow of water reaching Sudan or Egypt from the river has not been reduced even by a single teaspoon. We all know what Egypt is rehearsing with. It will not send its own panhandled F16’s, Rafale or SU35’s to blow up the dam but it will use its longtime beasts of burdens in Piccola Roma to do just that. Those ‘Black Italians’ are fool proof ‘Hee Haws’ in service of their benefactors in Cairo that goes back to early 1970’s when they blew up an oil refinery plant that was being built. Mark my word for it. That is what Egypt is gonna do. Those guys in Al-Qahirah are well versed in the arts of using proxies to do their dirty work.
1). Nile is ≈90% Ethiopian: Abbay & Tekeze [≈86%]. Baro & Akobo [≈4%] flow in to White Nile. Lake Victoria [≈10%]. Does Egypt deserve any drop of Ethiopia’s water?
2). ‘Unlawful & Violates International Law,’ my ass! Why should Ethiopia ever abide by any rule written by Drunk White Colonialists? What exactly is there in it for Ethiopia?
3). GERD Protection → Widen Abbay’s flow path upstream [go as far back as possible]:
i). Let’s more of Abbay stay home than falling in to enemy hands [Egypt];
ii). Relieves pressure on the GERD [wider flow path slows down flow to the GERD];
iii). Let’s more silt settle on wider surface area [reduces amount going in to the GERD];
iv). Creates jobs for ቦዘኔ አማራዎች [saves their lives from dying fighting for ‘Fannos’];
v). Here is the best part → It will infuriate Egypt & its Proxy Dogs in the Horn of Africa.
Correction: “Let’s” in #3 above should read “Lets”. ከማን አንሼ ብዬ – እንደ እናንት ምሁራን ልሁን – ብዬ ስንጠራራ – የተፍጠረ ስህተት ነው እኮ! Thanks a trillion!